Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Flying Officer Donal Kevin Joseph Hector is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Donal Kevin Joseph Hector is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Photo of DONAL KEVIN JOSEPH HECTOR – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of Donal Hector – From: University of Toronto Memorial Book Second World War 1939-1945. The book was published by the Soldiers' Tower Committee, University of Toronto. Submitted with permission, by Operation Picture Me.

Entrance

Cemetery

Grave marker

Soldiers' Tower Memorial – The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.

Memorial – The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of "F/O D.K.J. HECTOR R.C.A.F.” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

Memorial room – Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

Memorial Book – University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 28 reads: F/O Donal Kevin Joseph HECTOR, 431 Sqn RCAF. St Michael’s College, BA, 1943. Killed in an air operation over Essen, Germany, 1945. Buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany.

St. Michael’s College Memorial – The memorial slype between More and Fisher Houses on the University of Toronto campus commemorates the men of St. Michael’s College (University of Toronto) and St. Michael’s College School (a private Catholic high school) who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean conflict.

St. Michael’s College Memorial Intro – Inscriptions in the stone walls of the slype between More and Fisher Houses on the University of Toronto campus commemorate the men of St. Michael’s College (University of Toronto) and St. Michael’s College School (a private Catholic high school) who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean conflict.

Detail of St. Michael’s College Memorial – Showing some of the Second World War names including that of Donal Kevin Hector.

Photo of Donal Kevin Joseph Hector – from Torontonensis 1943 (University of Toronto yearbook)

Photo of St. Michael’s College Hockey team – from Torontonensis 1943 (University of Toronto yearbook) shows D. Hector in back row, fourth from photo left.

Newman Centre Memorial – This framed scroll hangs in the St. Thomas Aquinas Church at the Newman Centre Catholic Chaplaincy & Parish, located on the University of Toronto campus. “For King and Country Members of Newman Club of the University of Toronto Who Have Volunteered for Active Service with Canada’s Fighting Forces”. Among the names written in calligraphy is that of Donald [sic] Hector.

Photo of DONAL KEVIN JOSEPH HECTOR – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of DONAL KEVIN JOSEPH HECTOR – This poem was written by Sister Kathleen Celine Hector (the eldest sister of Donal Kevin Joseph Hector) on the night the family got news of his plane gone missing over Essen Germany. It is a beautiful piece of art and a lovely poem and tribute to her brother and one I would love to share with the world. My mother Maureen Constance (Hector) Zalusky gave it to me after her death.